SANTA CRUZ, CA:

March 20, 2011 — Santa Cruz County District Attorney Bob Lee has charged eleven people with multiple felonies and misdemeanors after the occupation of a vacant bank building on November 30th, 2011. Included in this group are four regular contributors to the independent news website Indybay.org. An Indybay release called this a "full frontal assault against independent media in Santa Cruz. [...] District Attorney Lee apparently believes it is his duty to dictate how events such as the occupation of the vacant bank at 75 River Street should be reported on by the media, and if he does not approve of the coverage, then journalists risk the DA bringing charges against them.



Roundup of Felons brought in by 1-800 tip from Indybay

Martin Wells

Jame Rivera

Ken Roberts

Pete Ellis

Roy Giller

Maxwell Whitmore

Ivone Forrester

Bert Hughes



UPDATES:

April 24, 2012 — Santa Cruz Ca. Crime Stoppers issued Statement about the Eleven Charged in Occupation of Vacant Bank... and said that a total of $24,500 was paid to informants who supplied information on the local ring leaders.